Lame Duck Dubya Craps on Women

Women should be aware of the "Right of Conscience Rule" that lame duck George Bush is pushing through before he flies the coop. This new rule could undermine a woman's ability to access reproductive health care. The rule says that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers can refuse to participate in any procedure they find morally objectionable, or against their religious beliefs. The broad language of the rule goes beyond just abortion to include sperm donations, artificial insemination, and contraception.

For example, a pharmacist can reject a rape victim's prescription for emergency contraception. A woman with a life threatening condition can be refused an early abortion. This rule allows pharmacists to refuse birth control to Medicaid recipients, so lower income women will be hit the hardest.

Shouldn't a patient's health care rights come before the religious beliefs of the health care providers?

Reproductive health care is a human right.

Isn't the Bush admin. just politicizing women's health in order to "set Obama up" for confrontation with the religious right? Obama has stated that he understands there is a "moral dimension to abortion" but he has also promised to protect the rights of women who seek abortion.

I can respect a health care worker's "right of conscience" but it is wrong to put ideology or politics before women's health.

Hey, I don't see any religious or political leaders speaking out to restrict Viagra use for unmarried men.

Quack, Quack.